Boston College Preview

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff

7pm ET/Conte Forum
ESPN U

Since the University of Miami resumed its basketball program in 1985, no school has beaten the Canes more frequently than Boston College. In fact, Miami enters tonight's game in Chestnut Hill sporting a seven game losing streak at the Conte Forum and having lost 12 of the last 13 overall to Boston College.

Boston College has had about the most confusing week for a major conference team in years. After dominating previously undefeated and #1 ranked North Carolina at the Dean Dome, the Eagles lost to Harvard at home midweek. Until we have further evidence the Harvard game must be considered a letdown. Last season, BC lost to Robert Morris one week and then crushed both Wake Forest and Miami the next. Since joining the ACC the Eagles have been a better in conference play than when facing mid majors. Robert Morris, Rhode Island Richmond and Harvard can all claim victories over an ACC team the last few seasons by beating B.C. Yet the Eagles have made the NCAAs in two of their first three ACC campaigns.

Tyrese Rice leads B.C. both as a scorer and a leader. The lone senior on Al Skinner's team, Rice will need to be contained tonight, something Miami has failed to do in the past. The transfer of big man Joe Trapani into the program has given the Eagles some strength up front. Trapani pairs with Josh Southern who is much improved from a shaky freshman year. Corey Raji has also improved dramatically from last season, using his athleticism to frequently keep alive offensive possessions after missed shots.

Rakim Sanders, Rice's backcourt mate is probably the most important player for Miami to stop. Sanders has the ability to drive to the basket and create scoring chances for himself and his team mates off the dribble. The assignment of guarding Sanders will fall to Brian Asbury and James Dews.

Miami's big men can help neutralize the size of Trapani and Southern inside. Jack McClinton can go mano e mano with Rice, and the Hurricanes big men can work to keep Raji off the glass. But the matchup of trying to stop Sanders, and the recent history of the Hurricanes against the BC makes me believe this will be a long night.

I hate to be pessimistic but every season this is the game which exposes the Hurricanes. Boston College under Al Skinner has done a better job of exposing Miami's weaknesses better than any other ACC team. That is unlikely to change tonight. Thankfully the Canes only play the Eagles once in Massachusetts a year.

PREDICTION: BOSTON COLLEGE 78 MIAMI 66.